Cutting machine



July 12, 1927.

' 1,635,166 w. H. ALBI-:E

CUTTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5. 1923 4 SheetsvShet 1 nunuluuuunrm W. H. ALBEE CUTTING MACHINE July 12, 1927.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filedl Feb. s.' 192s W. H. ALBEE CUTTING MACHINE July 12,1927. 1,635,166@

Filed Feb. 5. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 12, 1927.

' UNITED STATE 1,635,166- PATENT OFFICE.

WIIILIAM H. ALBEE, OF MABLBOBO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB T0 B. A. COBBIN & SON COMPANY, 0F MARLBOBO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MABSACHU- 1 SETTS.

' cinturino. momma.

Application Med February 5, 1923. Serial No. 816,898.

` \This invention relates to machine for cutting blanks from sheet material andmore particularly to the production by a diemgout process of box toe blanks for boots and shoes.

Such blanks usually have an approximately semi-circular shape and they are cut out of sheet material having suitablecharacteristics for stifening the toe portion of a shoe. Because of their peculiar shape it is difficult to cut out these blanks wlthout a considerable Waste of stock. Furthermore, the cutting or dinking operation is relatively s low. The presentinvention is especially concerned with these conditions audit has for its general object to expedite the cutting operation and to economiz'e material.

It is contemplated that the cutting operation can be performed most economically in a rotary machine, but the handling ofl the waste presents peculiar ditiiculties in a machine of this type especiallyl where econ-A omy of material is also an import-ant consideration. Accordingly, thepresent inventlon aims to devise a machine hafvlng a rotary die cutting roll in which the cutting f elements shall be so arranged with reference to each other as to cut a maximum number of blanks froma given area of sheet material, while at the same time preventing the waste material. from interfering with the continuous operation of the machine.

The various features of the invention will be readily understood fromthe following description of the preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the novel features-Will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawingszj f Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 34 is an end elevationalview, at the right of the machine; Fig. 4 is a view,'in longitudinal cross-section, through" the cutting-die roll showing the bed roll in full below it; Fig. 5 is a detail .view, in transverse cross-section,through the cutting-die roll and feed rolls; and Fig. 6 is a layout of the expanded cylindrical surface of the cutting-die roll` and the cutting dies shaped to produce box toe blanks. Y 1

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the main elements of the machine comprise two side frames 10 and 12; a smooth, frictionally driven bed centric intermediate a pinion 44 on the driving shaft. The drivv100 lroll 14 journaled for free rotative movelable trains of gearing from a driving shaft 26for driving the cutting-die and feed rolls at the .same surface speed. i The cuttin -die roll comprises a hollow cylinder 28 ig.- 4) having ends 30 and 32 of reduced diameter which turn in the journal boxes 18 and20. Each of these boxes can slide'vertically in a way vformed in an upwardly projecting portion of its respective side frameand each rests` upon com ression springs 33 at the bottom of lthe way. he uper end of each wa is closed by a horizontal caring cap 34, bo ted to the frame. havin an adjusting screw 35 threaded therethrou for engaging the journal .box beneath 1t. The cutting die itself comprises a second hollow cylinder, or sleeve, 36 provided with cutting blades 38 on its outer surface having the desired configuration for the blank to be roduced. This sleeve is slip ed on the ase cylinder 28 with a tight' lift, abutting at one end against a shoulder 39 just inside the journal box 18, and at its other end against the journal box 20. With this construction the cutting-die roll may be set down, against the pressure of the springs 33, until just the desired clearance with the bed roll is obtained. In practice it will just touch.

The cutting-die roll is driven through a gear 40 fast to the base cylinder 28 outside the journal box18. This gear meshes with a small pinion 41, journaled in an auxiliary bracket 42 pivotally mounted on the driving shaft 26 (Fig. 3), which supports also a conear 43 meshing withingl shaft is-journaled on the side frames (Fig. 1) and-is provided with a belt pulley 45 at one end, loose on the shaft, but clutched thereto through any convenient form of clutch, indicated at46, o erated by a han- 105 die 47 (Fig. 1) pivotal y mounted on a bracket 48 extending from the side frame 10.

The lower feed roll 24 is mounted yieldingly, in the customary manner on a spring seat 49 (Fig. 3), while the upper feed roll 110 for producing box toe blanks.

22 is journaled.v in fixed bearings in the side frames. rlhe two rolls are driven from a gear 50 on the cutting-die roll outsidethe journal box 20. .This gear meshes with an intermediate pinion 5l, journaled in an auxiliary bracket 52 pivotally mounted on the upper driving roll shaft, which pinion meshes with a gear 53 on said upper driving roll. 'lhe lower driving rollis rotated by the ear 53 intermeshing with a gear 54 on its shaft. The purpose of the two swinging auxiliary brackets will presently be made clear. The gearing is designed to drive the feed rolls and cutting-die roll at the same surface speed.

ln Fig. 6 there is shown a layout cn the expanded surface the cutting-die sleeve lit will be observed that the roll includes a circumferential series of pairs of dies, the individual dies of each pair being located side by side but in reversed relationship to each other.

,The metal of the sleeve-,within the outline of .each blank is routed out to the desircddepth V '4 and 5) at the inner .sidesoit allthe cutleaving beveled. or oblique walls 55 (Figs.

ting blades 38 thus. formed.` 'l` lie' generally triangular spaces at ea'cli,end 'of the sleeve 36, outside the irregularly shaped dies formed by the bladesgSS, are routed out to the same depth but the outerwalls 56 (Fig. 4) of the blades 38 arerperpedicular to the roll surface permitting a'sharpedge to be maintained. The irregularly shaped spaces shown on Fig. 6 between the dies formed by the blades 38 are cut 'radially entirely through the metal of the sleeve 36, as shown at 58 in Figs. 4 andslllhe base roll 28 has cut through its vwall lan equal number of holes 60 like the holes 58 in the sleeve, and in such position that the two sets, or series, register with each other when the sleeve is in place on the 'base roll 28 (see Fio. 4). rlhe purpose of these registering ho es .is to conduct the waste material to the interior of the cutting-die roll and in order to aid such discharge they are made larger at their inner ends than at their outer ends. The waste from the margins of the sheet of material bein cut can readily be segregated after the b anne have been cut, since it is not held tightly to the cutting-die roll. The waste material from the central portion of the sheet, however, is held tightly to the cutting-die roll by reason of its being completely circumscribed b`Y the cutting blades 38 and is found to be difficult to eject from the machine except in substantially the manner now to be described.

When the holes 58 and 60 have become substantially filled, the central waste pieces will begin to drop into the hollow interior of the base roll 28. Extending within the roll 28, and axially, thereof, is a rod 62 (Fig. 4) resting loosely at one end in a cap 63 set ginal waste, will aesaiee within the driving end of the roll, and held tightly at its other end in .a support 64 vertically adjustable on a bracket 66 extending from the side frame l2. The rod 62, therefore, remains stationary while the cuttingdie roll rotates around it. The rod carries, or has formed thereon, a helical blade 68 which extends the length of the cutting-die roll and for a short distance beyond its open end. 'l`he waste material is caught between the convolutions of the' helical blade which forms a track along which the vpieces are forced positively by the rotation of the cutting-die roll and the continual entry of new pieces. A suitable receptacle may be set beneath "the exposed end of the helical track to receive the waste pieces as they drop therefrom.

The machine is bolted to a supporting column 70 (Fig. 2) vand may conveniently be provided with a feed table 7l (Fig), on a level with the bite of the feed rolls, and with a chute, or apron, 72 for directing the blanks to a barrel or other container.l The beveled inner walls 55 of'the blades 38i cause the cut blanks lgenerally to drop freely on the apron 72 but in some instances they, orthe marstick at/ some point and be carried upward above the apron. To dislodge such pieces a scraper 73 depends vertically from, and is adjustably secured to (see Figs. l, 3 and 5), a cross tie 74 screwed to the bearing caps 34. The lower edge of the scraper just clears the blades 38 and will pick out any pieces partially held by the cutting-die roll and throw them down upon the apron.

In laying out different sized blanks upon the surface of the sleeve 36 of thecutting-die roll it will be necessary to vary the angle of the pairs, as shown in Fig. 6, and also the -diameter of the roll, making both the angle and the diameter greater or less as the size of the blank is greater or less. It is for this reason that the cutting-die roll is mounted for removal. In order to remove and re lace the cutting-die roll the tie rod 74' wit i its scraper is removed and then, on loosening the tie cap boltsand backing up the adjusting screws 35, the tie caps may be swung aside, permitting the cutting-die with its bearings and gears to be'lifted bodily from the frame when the earing. is disengaged. It will be recognizedt at with each different diameter of the cutting-die roll a variation in the pitch of the gear 50 will have to be made in order to maintain the e ual surface s eed of the cuttin -die roll'an feed rolls.

e purpose of t ie adjustable auxiliary brackets 42 and 52 will now be understood. They provide for disengagement of the gears and for a lre-setting thereof when a different sized cutting-die roll is introduced. On loosening the nut 75v (Fig. 3) in the frame the bracket 52 may be swung outward and lill) then adjusted to mesh .the intermediate gear 51 with the new gear 50.` A change in the diameter of the cutting die roll will also rerection,a the nut 76 having previously been Y loosened. The nut 76 is on the end ot' a tie rod 77 connecting the two side frames. The j end of another tie rod is seen at 78 inFig'. 3. Since the lfeed track for ejecting the waste pieces must beV maintained iii-axial alinemen-t with the cuttingdie roll, the vertical adjustment at 80 between thesupport 64 and bracket 66 is rovided.

It will be o served`that the layout of. such irrevularly shaped dies as the box toe blanks, as siown in Fig. 6, provides for the most economical use of the material. The diagonal arrangement in reverse pairs forming two columns, or bands, circumferentially of the cutting-die `roll with intermesliing innerangles, or corners, requires a minimum width of material, andby laying the.outer edges oi the blanks substantially parallel to the marginal edges of the material the marginal waste is also reduced to a minimum. lVith right and left box toe blanks the inside angies, which are the greater angles, would be placed 'at the margins of the sheet material and in such case the parallel relation of the outer edges of said angles to the edge of the sheet would be more pronounced than as shown in Fig. An indication of the arrangement `vof the dies Jfor right and left blanks is given by the cutting-die rolls shown in Fig. l.

The scope of theinvention having been indicated and the preferred form thereof having been specifically described,` what is claimed as new, is:

l. A machine for cutting blanks having, in combination, a bed roll, a cutting-die roll cooperating with said bed roll and comprising a hollow cylinder havin a plurality of adjoining dies on lits circum erentiai surface l so arranged that spaces producing waste material are interspersed vbetween said dies, said die roil having openings from said waste material spaces .to the interior thereof, and means for rotating said die roll.'

2. A machine for cutting blanks havin in combination, a bed roll, a cutting-die ro l' cooperating with said bed roll and comprisingl a hollow cylinder havin a plurality of adjoining dies on its circum erential surface so arrangedk that spacesl producing waste material are interspersed between said dies,

said die roll having openings from said waste material spaces to the interior thereof, meansfor rotatingpsaid die roll, and means within said die roll for removing waste entering therein through said openings;

35A machine for cutting blanks having,

in combination, a bed roll, a cutting-die roll cooperating with said bed roll and comprislng a hollow cylinder having a plurality of adjoining dies on its circumferential surface 'so arranged that spaces producing waste material are interspersed between said dies, said die roll having openings from said waste material spaces to the interior thereof, means for rotating said die roll, and means within said die roll for causing waste entering therein to be ejected from an open end thereof.

4. A machine for cutting blanks having, in combination, a bed roll, a cutting-die roll cooperating with said hed roll and comprising a hollow cylinder having a plurality of adjoining dies on its circumtercntial Surface so arranged that spaces producing waste material are lnterspersed 'between sald dies,

said vdie roll having openings from said waste material ospaces to the interior thereof, means for rotating said die roll, and means within said die roll,` having a fixed relation thereto, constructed and arranged to ositively advance the waste material entering the roll toward an open end thereof.

5. A machine for cutting blanks having, in combination, a bed roll, a cutting-die roll cooperating with said bed roll and comprising a hollow cylinder having a plurality of adjoining dies on its circumferential surface so arranged that spaces producing waste material are interspersed between said dies, said die roll having openings from said waste material spaces to the interior thereof, means for rotatin said die roil, and means (zo-operating with the rotating die roll to positively advance the waste material ill) in combination. a bed roll, a cutting-die ro l cooperating with said bed roll and comprising a hollow cylinder havin a plurality of adjoining dies on its circum erential surface so arranged that spaces producing waste material are interspersed between said dies, said die roll having openings from said waste material spaces to the interior thereof,

means for rotating said die roll, and an axia'iiy arranged helical feed track entering one open end of the die roll along which the waste, introduced to the interior of the roll,

is fed by the rotation of the roll.

7. A machine for cutting blanks having, in combination, a bed roll, a cutting-die roll cooperating with said bed roll and comprising a hollow cylinder having a plurality of adjoining dies on its circumferential surface so arranged that spaces producing waste material are interspersed between sald dies, said die roll having openings from said waste vmaterial spaces to the interior thereof, means for rotating said die roll, and a helical track within said die roll supported at one end pass toy its` interior,

in a fixed bearing formed in the roll and adjustably supported at the other end.

8. A machine for cutting blanks havin in combination, a bed roll, a cutting-die ro l cooperating with said bed roll and comprising a hollow cylinder having dies on its surface so arranged that waste producing spaces are interspersed between the dies and constructed to permit the waste material to means for supporting said roll permitting an interchange of cutting-die rolls having different diameters, and means arranged axially of said roll to eject the waste material from its interior and adinstable to retain its axial position regardless of the diameter ot' the cutting-die roll used.

9. A cutting-die roll for blank cutting machines comprising a hollow cylinder, and a sleeve mounted thereon proyided with a plurality of cutting-dies on its outer surface so arranged that spaces producing waste material are interspersed between said dies, said sleeve having openings therethrough com niunicating with said spaces and said cylinder having openings through its wall registering with said openings in the sleeve.

10. A machine for cutting blanks having, in combination, a bed roll, a cutting-die roll of the rod, a bearing on the frame for clamping the other end of the rod, and a helical feed track carried by the rod.

11. A cutting-die roll for a box toe entting machine, said roll having aplurality ot adjoining dies on its periphery so `arranged that s aces producing waste material are located lbetween said dies, said roll being prof vided with openings leading from said waste material spaces to the interior thereof through which the waste material maybe discharged.

12. A cutting-die roll for a box toe cutting machine, said roll having on the periphery thereof a circumferential series of pairs of dies with the individual dies ot'cach pair located side by side but positioned in reverse relationship to each other, whereby washl material spaces are :formed between the dies. said roll having openings permitting the discharge of the Waste material from said spaces into the interior of the roll.

WILLIAM H. ALBEE. 

